Lamp construction



NOV. 29, A HoLLgNs ET AL LAMP CONSTRUCTION Filed April 28, 1937 L I INVENTQR-S abraha'am Wall; 15 m olitnw Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Application April 28, 1937, Serial No. 139,430

Claims.

This invention relates to direction indicators and more particularly relates to novel electrical right-left indicators for automobiles.

It is among the objects of the present inven- 5 tion to provide a novel electrical direction indicator of simplified construction and design, containing a minimum of component parts; to pro vide an automobile right-left indicator particularly adapted to withstand vibration and shock without becoming disarranged; and to provide a novel electrical direction indicator for vehicles which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and install.

These and other objects will become apparent in the following description of a preferred construction of the present invention illustrated in the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view into the interior of the reflector shell containing the signal lamps.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along 22 of Figure 1 for illustrating the preferred curvature of the unitary reflector shell.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along 3-3 of Figure 1, illustrating the preferred lamp socket construction and mounting.

Figure 4 is an elevational View of the signal indicator as assembled for use.

Figure 5 is an end View of the assembled indicator.

The present invention is illustrated in connection with a right-left signal indicator for vehicles, such as automobiles. Such an indicator generally comprises two or more signal lamps electrically responsive to the operation of the vehicle,

or to the operator, for indicating the direction to which the vehicle is about to turn.

An important feature of the present invention is the unitary construction of the reflector shell which houses two independent light sources. The

reflector shell it is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and preferably is formed of a single sheet of metal. A sheet of brass, steel, copper or other suitable malleable and ductile material is formed with two symmetrical pockets H and i2 for individually enveloping the electric bulbs l3 and M, shown in dotted lines. The reflector shell IE] is drawn in a die in a manner well known in the mechanical arts. The present invention is not directed to the process of forming the shell but specifically to its form, construction and arrangement, and its combination with the sockets and indicator structure, as will be described.

The outline of the reflector is of a diamond shape to conform to the preferred exterior appearance of the unit, as shown in Figure l. A

lamp socket i5 is mounted to project within the lamp pocket l I; and a lamp socket IE, to project within the lamp pocket l2. The medial portion ll of the reflector extends substantially in a plane with the edges [8 and I9, so as to divide 5 the unit into two independent portions and prevent light interference therebetween. The reflector shell H3 is accordingly constructed with two symmetrical sections consisting of lamp pockets H and I2, and a dividing region I! separating 10 the lamp units.

With the preferred rhomboidal or diamond shape for the reflector unit II], the pockets H and I2 will have the formation of a substantially frusto-conical or pear-shaped formation cut 15 along a transverse section. The dividing region l! is a compound curve, as illustrated, in order to project the lamp sockets I5 and I6 toward the center of the pockets II and [2. The end portions 20 and 2! of the dividing region I! are 20 perpendicular to the axes of the respective sockets I5 and It. At flattened portion of the reflector shell obtains at the regions 22 and 23 near the socket mountings. The mounting holes 24 and 25 are punched at the flattened areas 22 25 and 23 for supporting the reflector shell in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating the preferred socket construction and arrangement for the electric 30 bulbs. The socket 16 consists of a cylindrical metallic form containing a slot 26 having a notch 21 for arresting the pin 28 of the electric bulb I4, as seen in Figure 1. The socket l6 contains a shank portion 29 at its base. The shank 29 is 35 placed into the opening 30 in the reflector shell and riveted over to mechanically and electrically aflix the socket IE to the reflector shell l0.

Electrical connection to the other contact of the lamp is made by a metallic button 3| at- 40 tached to a single wire cable 32 and held in position within the socket l6 by a fibre or insulating washer 33 pressed against a spring 34. The spring 34 mechanically biases the lamp pin 28 against the notch 21 to rigidly hold the bulb in 45 position and maintain electrical connection to the bulb at the button 3 I. The base of the electric bulb is electrically connected through the socket portion Hi. It is to be understood that the lamp socket l5, supported within the pocket 50 H has a similar construction to that described in connection with the socket Hi. It is to be further understood that different lamp socket constructions may be used with the preferred reflector shell form. Electrical connection is 55 made to the lamps by means of their individual conductors 32. A common connection to the signal lamps l3 and M is had at the reflector shell H3, since the socket shells I5 and I6 are in metallic contact with the lamp bases and the reflector ill. Preferred circuit arrangements for the simplified right-left direction indicator of the present invention are disclosed in the copending application filed concurrently herewith. However, different circuital arrangements for this invention may be made by those skilled in the art.

In Figure 4, the reflector shell is shown assembled upon a portion 35 of a vehicle. The lamp front 36 of the indicator, shown in dotted, is an opaque body containing translucent portions 31, 33 and 39. We prefer to employ a nickel plated metallic lamp front 36 of diamond shape and containing colored composition portions at 31, 38 and 39 supported within the lamp front 36. The size of the diamond shape indicator is made so as to contain sufliciently large translucent portions 3'! and 39, preferably in the form of arrow heads as shown, to be clearly visible at distances of at least 200 feet. A diamond shape plate 35 having a horizontal dimension of about 6 inches and a vertical dimension of about 4 to 5 inches has been found to have a very pleasing shape and ample visibility in operation. The arrow head signals 37 and 39 of such dimension lamp front are about 2% long. The translucent diamond shape portion 38 may be preferably about 1% of an inch wide and high. The dividing region H of the reflector shell divides in half the translucent diamond shape portion 38.

The indicator or lamp housing 40 is indicated in dotted in the end View Figure 5, of the assembled unit. The housing 40 is preferably of streamlined design to harmonize with modern motor vehicle designs. The housing 40 contains a threaded portion opposite each reflector shell opening 24 and 25, so as to permit the shell to be rigidly mounted between the lamp front 36 and the lamp housing 40 by screws 4 I. The indicator assembly is mounted on to a portion 35 of the vehicle in any suitable manner. A convenient mounting consists of a. bolt 42 and cup 43, containing a central hole through the bolt, through which the lamp conductors 32 are passed for connection with the remainder of the right-left indicator circuit. The common terminal for the lamps l3 and I4 is the ground connection extending from the reflector shell, through the lamp mounting, to the vehicle metal body.

The reflector shell It] carries and encloses two independent signal lamps l3 and M, in two separate compartments. The compartments or lamp pockets I l and 52 are separated into two portions by the curved region ll extending substantially flush with the upper diamond shaped edge of the shell Ill. The interior of the reflector shell is preferably coated with a reflector material such as aluminum paint or spray. When the reflector shell is assembled between the housing 40 and the front plate 36 it rigidly supports the two signal lamps l3 and 14 in position, and separates any light effects between the lamps. Accordingly, when one of the two lamps is illuminated the translucent side'corresponding to that particular lamp is illuminated to the exterior. By referring to Figure 4 it may be seen that the portion which is illuminated when lamp I 3 is in circuit is the arrow head 3'! and the left half of the diamond 38. In a similar manner, when lamp I4 is illuminated the arrow head 39 together with the right half of the central diamond 38 is illuminated. The medial region I! of the reflector shell separates the lighting of the left and right arrow portions of the indicator.

Although a preferred embodiment for the pres- -ent invention has been disclosed in connection with a double signal lamp indicator unit, it is to be understood that modifications thereof will be evident to those skilled in the art, and accordingly the invention is not intended to be limited except as set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A signal indicator comprising a unitary reflector shell consisting of a drawn metallic member having a diamond-shaped outline and bearing two pear-shaped pockets, a medial region separating said pockets, lamp sockets, individual to and mounted in the stem end of each of said pockets, and extending transversely across the same in opposing directions, said medial region having an edge extending substantially flush with the outline of said shell for excluding light from one of said pockets to the other.

2. A signal indicator comprising a unitary drawn metal reflector shell having an integral medial wall extending across the reflector to form two adjoining pockets, the pockets being inversely positioned halves of a substantially truncated cone formation, and sockets individual to and mounted on the truncated surfaces of each of said pockets mounted in and extending across the pockets'in opposing directions.

3. A signal indicator comprising a unitary drawn metal reflector shell having an integral medial wall extending across the reflector to form two adjoining pockets, the pockets being inversely positioned halves of a substantially truncated cone formation, and sockets individual to each of said pockets mounted on opposing walls forming the truncated surfaces of said pockets and extending transversely across the same in opposing directions;

4. A signal indicator comprising a unitary drawn metal shell having an integral medial wall extending across the same to provide adjoining symmetricalpockets in the form of halves of a truncated cone, and lamp sockets individual to each of said pockets mounted on and extending from opposing end walls of the pockets transversely across the same in opposing directions.

5. A signal indicator comprising a unitary drawn metal shell having an integral medial wall extending across the same to provide adjoining symmetrical pockets, in the form of halves of a truncated cone, the ends of said'medial wall forming a part of said truncated cone formation and lamp sockets individual to each of said pockets mounted on the opposing ends of said medial wall and extending transversely across the pockets in opposing directions.

ABRAHAM HOLLINS. JESSE HOLLINS. 

